This list is for cat owners who want automatic scooping without paying Litter-Robot prices. A box qualifies if its price was under $500 when we last checked. Before buying, check your cat's weight against the box's range, the height of the entry, and whether the box needs its own bags, litter or cartridges. How we score.
Open top box for big or wary cats, rated up to 33 lb
Holds first because it has the best test average here, with 4.9/5 from Catster and 4/5 from Cats.com. It costs about $30 more than the PuraMax 2 below but scored clearly higher. Its 13.86 in entry is high for senior cats, and Cats.com flagged early bin full lockouts.
CAT WEIGHT 2.2 to 33 lbMAX CATS Not stated; marketed for multi cat homesLITTER Clumping granularWASTE DRAWER 11.23 L binSCORE 8.6
Mid priced drum box with 12 sensors and a sealed bin
Shares the lowest price here with the SmartSpin, and Cats.com scored it 3.8/5, a bit above the SmartSpin's 3.6/5, which keeps it second. It trails the M1 on test results. Cats.com named it Best Odor Control, but its cats over ten pounds ignored it and it works poorly on carpet.
CAT WEIGHT 3.3 to 22 lbMAX CATS Not stated; app tracks each cat by weightLITTER Clay, tofu, cornWASTE DRAWER 7 L sealed binSCORE 8.3
Compact app connected box from a long running US pet brand
Ties the PuraMax 2 on price but scored slightly lower, 3.6/5 from Cats.com in a month long multi cat test. It ranks above the CATLINK because it costs about $50 less. It is compact, but the entry sits about 12 in up with no step, and it is not suited to large cats.
CAT WEIGHT Up to 25 lbMAX CATS Not stated; marketed for multi cat homesLITTER Clumping clayWASTE DRAWER 6 L sealed drawerSCORE 8.0
Plug in globe box with anti tracking entry, no WiFi needed
Cats.com scored it 3.9/5, a touch above the SmartSpin, but it costs about $50 more, which puts it fourth. It edges the CatGenie, which scored higher but costs more still. It works without an app or WiFi and uses proprietary waste bags, and the Cats.com reviewer's cats never used it.
CAT WEIGHT 3.5 to 22 lbMAX CATS Not statedLITTER Clumping clay or tofuWASTE DRAWER 13 L drawerSCORE 7.5
Plumbed box that washes reusable granules and flushes waste
Cats.com scored it 4.1/5, higher than the CATLINK, but it costs about $50 more and lands just behind on our score. It ties the SNOW+ at 7.4 and ranks ahead because it costs about $30 less. It needs a water line and drain, and odor control between cycles was weak in testing.
CAT WEIGHT Not stated by makerMAX CATS Not stated; marketed for multiple catsLITTER Washable granulesWASTE DRAWER None, flushes wasteSCORE 7.4
Camera equipped PETKIT box that recognizes up to 15 cats
A camera box that recognizes up to 15 cats, with an 8 L sealed drawer, for about $400 less than the Litter-Robot 5 Pro. TechnoMeow found the camera useful for watching a senior cat but its sensors unreliable on carpet. It is not ranked yet because that review gave no numeric score.
CAT WEIGHT 3.3 to 22 lbMAX CATS Camera IDs up to 15LITTER Clay, tofu, mixedWASTE DRAWER 8 L sealed drawerSCORE not yet